Space and lead discarder and distributer-loader.



No. 646,359. Patented-Mar. 27, I900. P. F.. COX.

SPACE AND LEAD DISCABDEB AND DISTRIBUTEB- LOADER. (Application filed Aug. 30, 1899.

(No Model.)

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v Patented Mar. 27,.- I900. P. F. COX. SPACE AND LEAD DISCABDER AND DI STRIBUTER LDADER.

(Application filed Aug. 30, 1899.) (No Model l3 Sheets$heet 2.

W/T/VESS Allorneyo 1-: NORRIS pawns co. PHo'rc-umo. WASMINGTON, u a

No. 646,359. Patented Mar. 27, I900.

P. F. cox;

SPACE AND LEADDISCARDER AND DISTRIBUTER LO-ADE B.

(Application filed Aug. 30, 1899.) v (No Model.) [3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

I I l G I 00 I II H WITNESSES Patented Mar. 27, I900.

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SPACE AND LEAD-DISCARDER AND DISTRIBUTER LOADER.

(Application filed Aug. 30, 1899.) 1 (No Model.) l3 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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,359. Patented Mar. 27, I900.

P. rrcox. SPACE AND LEAD DISCARDER AND DISTRIBUTER LOADER..

(Application fi1ed'Aug.30,1-899.)

. l3 Sheets-Sheet 8 (No Model.)

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s: lllll Ill \ a v A Ill V l T N 5531281 v No. 646,359. Patented Mar. 27, won. P. F. cox.

SPACE AND LEAD DISCARDER AND DISTBIBUTER LOADER.

(Application filed -Aug. 30, 1899.)

(No Model.) 'l3 Sheets-Sheet 7 No. 646,359. P'aiented Mar. 27, I900.

P. F. COX. SPACE AND LEAD DISCARDEH AND DISTRIBUTER LUADER.

(Application filed Aug. 30, 1899.) (No Model.) [3 Sheets8heet 8,

Z [/VVE/l/TOHI E Noam PETERS co. PHoYo-uwo, WASHNGTON o c No. 646,359. Patented Mar. 27,1900.

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SPACE AND LEAD DISCARDER AND DISTRIBUTEB LOADEB.

(Application filed Aug. 30, 1899.) (No Model.) I3 Sheets$haet 9.

i l amgggylm M Y JNVZNT RJ I v Patented Mar. 27 P. F. cox. SPACE AND.LEAD DISCARDER AND DISTBIBUTEB LOADER.

(Application filed Aug. 30, 1899.)

(N0 Model.)

QWITNESS" I v :3 I d w ma Nonms Pzrzns co, Worauma, WASHH'GTOM u. c..

Patented Mar. 27, I900.

P. F. coX

SPACE AND LEAD DISCABDER AND DISTRIBUTEB LUADER.

(Application filed Aug. 30, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 l3 Sheets-Sheet ll.

lllllll I WITNESSES.

No. 646,359. Patented Mar. .27, I900.

' P. F. COX.

SPACE AND LEAD DlSCARDER-AND DISTRI'B U'TE B LOADER.

(Application filed Aug. 30; 1899,

(No Model.) I3 Sheets-Sheet I2.

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No. 646.359. Patented Mar." 27, I900.

. P. F. COX. SPACE AND LEAD DISCARDER AND DISTRIBUTER LDADER.

(Application filed Aug. 30, 1899.) v

' I3 Sheets-Sheat [3.

(No Model.)

I-VITNESSE INVENTOR" 4% 1 6 096 6 W Q Q M I Rms PETERS cc nncwaumu. vusnmsrou n c NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

PAUL FLEMMING COX, CF MANCHESTER, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE UN ITYPE COMPANY, 'OF SAME PLACE.

SPACE AND LEAD DlSCARD ER AND DI'STRIBUTER-LOADER.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,359, dated March 2'7, 1900.

Application filed August 30,1899. A Serial No. 728,965. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that 1, PAUL FLEMMING Cox, of Manchester, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain 5 new'and useful Improvements in Space and Lead Discarders and Distributer-Loaders, and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to type-distributing apparatus, and is especially designed for use in connection with machines in which the type are distributed by moving a series of channels containing undistributed type over a fixed series'of test-plates which may be at: tached to the type-reservoir, being particularly adapted to machines of the style known generally as the Thorne type-setting ma- 2o chine, in which the undistributed type are placed ina grooved cylinder which is rotated over another cylinder containing the distributed type; and the present invention, briefly, is designed (a) to separate the lines from the galley of dead-matter, (1)) to discard leads from the lines, (0) to remove all the spaces, quads, &c., from the separated lines, and (d) to automatically introduce the lines from which the spaces and leads have been re- 0 moved into' the empty channels in the typedistributer Without stopping the distributing operation of the machine. These several operations are to be performed automatically,

and the operation of the mechanisms is or may be controlled entirely by the followers or weights placed in the distributer-channels or by other suitable means, so that Whenever an empty channel in the distributer comes opposite the loading mechanism it will automatically receive 'a supply of undistributed type, and at the same time the mechanism will be put in operation to make ready another line of undistributed type to' be charged into the next empty channel of the distributer.

The invention therefore embodies, first, novel means for separating the lines of type from the dead-matter and removing the leads therefrom; second, novel mechanism whereby the spaces may be removed from the lines of type; third, novel meansyfor effecting'the change of movement of the line of type from shown in Fig. 17.

novel means for automatically loading lines of type into the channels of a moving distributor or type-holder.

The invention can be also readily adapted for use inloading the channels of the setting: reservoir; but in the drawings the invention is shown as applied to a machine in which the type are distributed directly from the dis- 6o tributing-cylinder into the channels of the reservoir or setting-cylinder, and I shall describe the invention as applied and adapted to such a distributing-machine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a'front elevation of the complete apparatus as applied to a Thorne type-setting machine. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, slightly enlarged, partly in section and partly broken aways Fig 3 is a detail view,enlarged, of the galley and mechanism for separating the lines from dead matter. .Fig. 4 is a similar view, partly in section, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the lead-discarding devices. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the lower part'of the galleyrest and its connections. Fig. 7 is a detail.

plete apparatus, partly broken away. Fig. 9

is a part side elevation and vertical section of So the complete apparatus, particularly showing. the space-discarding mechanism, the outer side plate being removed. Fig. 10 is an enlarged's'ectional view of the space-discarding mechanism. Fig; 11 is aitransverse section of the apparatus on line 11 11, Fig. 9,1o0king downward. Fig. 12 is a similar view on line 12 12, Fig. 9, looking downward. Fig. 13 is a detail view of one of the clutch mechanisms. Figs. 14 and 15 are detail sectional views illuso tratingthe clutch-tripping mechanisms. Fig.

16 is an enlarged frontelevation, partlybroken away, of the lower portion of the apparatus, showing the line-ad vancing mechanism. Fig.

17 is an enlarged rear elevation of the loading mechanism. Fig. 18 is a detailof the part Fig. 19 is an enlarged sec= tional elevation looking rearward, showing the space discarding and loading mechanisms. Figs. 2 O, 21, and 22 are detail views of too the trip mechanisms. Fig. 23 is a detail "iew of the shafts 369 and 373 and the cams thereon. Fig. 24 is a detail horizontal sectional view of the loading mechanism.

424 designates the distributed-type reservoir of the complete machine, which is a fixed channeled cylinder of the ordinary Thorne type, over which rotates a distributing-cylina vertical shaft 427, which latter shaft is the driving-shaft of the space-discarding and distributer-loading mechanism which forms the subject of the present invention. Shaft 427 is driven by a bevel-gear 426 on its upper end from a bevel-gear on a short horizontal shaft 434, which is driven from any suitable source of power by means of fast and idler pulleys,

, or, as shown, by means of a pulley 433, which can be locked to the shaft by means of a clutch 464, which can be thrown into or out of operation by a conveniently-arranged hand-lever, as shown.

The above-described devices do not constitute part of the present invention, which resides in the mechanisms by which type-lines can be separated from a galley of undistributed type, the leads and spaces discarded therefrom, and each line subsequently loaded into the distributing-cylinder 417.

The present invention as a whole I term a space and lead discarding and distributerloading mechanism, and most of the operative parts thereof are supported upon or from a vertical frame 400, which is attached to the base of the machine and rises beside the cylinder 417, as shown.

For convenience in description of the apparatus I will trace the course of a line of type from the time it is separated from the dead matter in the galley until it is finally loaded into the channel of the distributing-cylinder and in so doing will describe the various operations upon such line of type and the various mechanisms by which these operations are performed in its travel from the deadmatter galley to the distributing-cylinder.

The Zine-separator and ZeacZ-d'iscctrder.- The galley G, containing the dead matter, is placed in a holder or galley-rest bracket, which is preferably constructed of opposite side castings 390 and 391, attached to opposite ends of a casting 302, which has a dovetailed rib 302 on its upper side and is provided with depending lugs 302, by which it is hinged between a lug 263 on a bracket 263 and the adjoining side plate of frame 400, so that the holder can be turned from a vertical to-a horizontal position. The outer ends of side pieces 390 391 are connected by a rod 392, and on the rib 302 is slidably mounted an adjustable clamp-block 304, by which galleys G of different widths can be secured in the holder, this block 304 being secured in place by a pin 304", which transiixcs the block and is adapted to engage any one of a series of holes 302 in rib 302, as shown. \Vhen the galley-holder is turned to vertical position, it is held by a catch 398 on side of frame 400, (see Fig. 8,) and in this position the type are retained in the galley-by a glass or other suitable plate g, as shown. The casting 302 is also provided with guides for a transverselymovable slide or plunger 298, which when the holder is in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, will close the inner end of the holder, and against which the end of the galley and the type therein may rest, and when the holder is in vertical position, Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5, this plunger 298 alternately supports the type in the galley and is the means for ejecting the lines successively therefrom. Plunger 298 is pivotally connected at 298 to ears 297 on a slide 297, which is mounted in bracket 263, and slide 297 is connected by a pitman 331 to the free end of a vibrating lever 330, whose inner end is pivoted on the frame and which is provided intermediate its ends with a roller that engages a race-cam groove in the cam 365, fast upon a sleeve 370, surrounding a vertical shaft 369, which shaft is driven by bevel-gears 376 from a horizontal shaft 379, which in turn is driven by bevel-gcars from the shaft 427, as shown. (See Fig. 2.) Pit man 331 is detaehably attached to the lever 330 by catch 331" for the following reasons:

It will beobserved by reference to Fig. 4 that when the galley-holder 390 is in vertical position the fulcrum or pivotal connection between the plunger 298 and slide 297 is in ad Vance of the hinge-pivots of the galley-holder and it is necessary to get the pivots of the plunger and holder in line before the holder can be lowered. To do this, pitman 331 is disconnected from lever 330, and slide 297 is thenpulled back until its end is arrested by a stop 432, (which is simply a little gravital lug pivoted to the part 263 and upheld by the fingers, so as to limit the rearward movement of the slide 297 at this time.) When the slide is thus pulled back, as indicated in Fig. 3, the pivots of the plunger and holder are in line, and the holder can then be turned down into a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3. When thus turned down, the plunger 298 will form the end wall of the holder, and the galley G, loaded with undistributed and leaded type, can be placed in the holder and pushed in against the plunger 298. The holder is then turned to a vertical position and the slide 297 pushed inward until the pitman 331 can be again connected to lever 330, when the parts will be in operative position. This brings the undistributed matter to a vertical position above and supported upon the plunger 298, which lies directly over a false bottom 397, which is attached to a plate 303, hinged on a rod 550, supported on a plate 301 just below and in front of the lower end of the galley-holder. The bottom 397 is upheld normally by the rod 336,which is provided at its lower end with a friction-roller 336,which engages a race cam-groove 362 in the end of a drunken cam 362, hereinafter referred to.

The bottom 397 is detachably connected to plate 303, so thatit may be interchanged with others of greater or less thickness, according to the leading of the matter to be distributed.

If the matter is not leaded, bottom 397 should be of such thickness as to fit closely against the under side of slide 298 when the bottom is closed, as shown in Fig. 4. If the matter is single-leaded, a bottom 397 should be substituted, which will just leave room for one lead to lie upon the bottom, between it and the plunger 298, and if double-leaded a still thinner bottom 397 should be used.

To the galley-holder is attached a guidebar 532 for a weight 535, to which is attached a follower 534, which when the holder is in vertical position will rest upon the top-of the type in the galley and force the same-down therein. This follower 534 is provided with a laterally-extensible slide 536, by which the length of the follower can be varied to fit the width of the galley in the holder.

The functions of the above-described devices are to separate lines of type from the dead matter in the galley and to discard the leads therefrom, and their operation is as follows: When the plunger 298 is retracted, the undistributed matter in the galley will drop down upon the bottom 397, which is then in its horizontal or closed position. The plunger is then actuated, so as to move forward over this bottom and eject the lowermost line of type laterally from the galley through a slot 348 (in the bar 348 at the base of the galley-support) into a horizontally-disposed typechannel a. If the matter wereleaded, a thin bottom 397 would be used, so that the lead would remain upon the bottom 397 while the superimposed line of type would be pushed out intothechannela. Whentheplunger298has entirely ejected a line of type from the holder and is in or about the position shown in Fig.

'5, the bottom 397 is dropped, allowing the lead thereon to slide off and down through a chute 1) into a lead-box B. The bottom is then restored to normal position,whereupon the plunger 298 is retracted, and this operation will be repeated each time the plunger is is actuated. Thus the operations of separating the lines and discarding the leads are entirely automatic.

The block 304 is made adjustable to enable different-sized galleys to be secured 'in the same holder, and the machine shown can accommodate any length of line from thirteen to twenty-eight'em's. The slide 298 is as wide as the longest line to be operated upon, and when operating upon lines of such length both sides of the slot under the galley, in which the slide 298 works, will be closed but when operating upon shorter lines such slot is narrowed and one end thereof will be left,

practically open, and perchance an end type might fall over or twist into this open end of the slot, so as to cause trouble. To prevent any such contingency, I preferably pivotally attach to the inner side of the adjustable block 304 a tumbler 308, which occupies a recess in the block and is normally upheld by the slide 298; but when the latter is retracted this tumbler will drop down upon the bottom 397 and prevent any type slipping out of the open end of the slot under the galley in which 298 moves. The tumbler 308 is pressed down bya spring 308, as shown.

The space-discarding mechcmism.Aftcr the line has been separated from the galley and the lead discarded, as described, the line is subjected to the action of the space-discarding mechanism, as follows: The line of type ejected from the galley by plunger 298 is moved laterally forward into' a horizontally-disposed channel Ct and in front of a plunger 353, which is operated at the proper time so as to move the line forward in channel Ct by means of the lever 527, which is pivotally connected at its lower end to one end of a link 327, the other end of which is pivoted to the main frame, as shown, by a bolt 327, to which is also pivoted the lower end of a lever 328, the upper end of which is connected to lever 527 by a second link 332. Lever 328 is provided with a roller 328, which engages the peripheral cam-groove 362 in a cam 362, which is mounted upon a sleeve 364, that is driven from a shaft 373 by means of a bevel-gear 365 on the cam end meshing with a smaller bevel 372 on a shaft 372, journaled in a fixed bracket 262, and shaft 372 is driven by a bevel-gear 73 meshing with another bevel 374 on the shaft 373,-whioh is in line with, but independent of, shaft 369, but is intermittently driven from the latter by a clutch mechanism, as hereinafter described. I would also state at this point that the sleeve 370 is also intermittently driven from shaft 369 by clutch mechanism hereinafter described.

The cam-groove 362 in cam 362 is so shaped as to give a number of intermittent impulses to the follower 353 in moving it from right to left, but will return the same quickly from left to right. The object of this intermittent movementofthe plunger 352is to move theline of type in channel a forward and subject the same several times to the-action of the space-discarding mechanism, which is constructed and operates upon the line as follows:

Above the channel a,between the cylinder 417 and the galley-holder, is arranged a series of vertically-disposed space discarders or ejectors 299 and 300, the latter being slightly shorter than the former. These ejectors are constructed substantially like and have substantially the same mode of operation as those described in my Patent No. 550,553, of November 26, 1895. They are provided with feeler-tips 300 on their lower ends, by which they are enabled to locate the spaces, and with projections 300, which are adapted to be engaged by an actuating-bar 288 on avertically-movable slide 347, which is suspended bylinks 3 kt from vertically-movable bars 345, which are normally upheld by springs 345,

which are guided in their vertical movements bya casting 289, attached to frame 400. Slide 347 is connected by links 3&6 to the forward end'of a lever 315, which is provided with a friction-roller bearing against a peripheral cam 384, keyed to a shaft 380, lever 315 being upheld by a stout coiled spring 315, as shown. The shaft 380 is driven by a gear 381 meshing with a pinion 377, loosely journaled on shaft 379, from which it is driven intermittently at the proper time by a clutch mechanism hereinafter described. This shaft 379is driven continuously,as above described, by gearing from shaft 427.

Each of the ejector-fingers 300 and 299 is pressed downward by individual springs 299, as shown, and all the ejectors are notched to fit over the edge of a vertically-movable controllerplate 323, which has arms 323, by which it is connected to rocking bell-cranklevers 316 317, which are pivoted on the frame and are provided with'friction-rollers which respectively bear against peripheral cams 382 and 383, keyed on shaft 380, as shown. The plate 323 is held normally in raised position, and therefore holds the ej ectors 299 and 300 up and out of the way of the line of type in channel a; but when the line of type comes to rest momentarily under the ejectors the controller 323 is lowered and such of the ejectors whose feelers find a space in the line of type will drop still farther, so that their projections 300 will be in position to be struck by the positively actuated bar 288, which at that time is swung downward by the action of lever 315 and cam 38%. By reason of the toggle connection between the bar 288 and the lever 315,

formed by the oppositely-swinging links 34A and 3&6, bar 288 is given a quick outward and downward movement in actuating the ejectors and a quick rearward and upward movement aft-er it disengages them, so that it catches the projections 300 of those ejectors which have found a space, forcibly depressing the same, thereby knocking a space out of the line, and then swings backward and upward out of the way. As soon as the plate 288 is out of the way the controller 323 is raised and draws all of the ejectors up out of the way of the line, which is then again advanced by plunger 353, stopped, and the'operation of the ejectors again repeated.

It will be observed that the channel a is horizontal and that the type-line therein is presented broadside and flatwise to the action of the ejectors; further, that the channel beneath the ejectors is practically an open slot, with merely a narrow groove at each side, just sufficient to support a full-length type over such slot, but will allow a space, which is shorter than the type, to be easily pushed out of the line and out of the channel, the discarded spaces falling by gravity into a space-box S, supported on the frame just beneath the ejectors, as shown.

Practically I propose to submit each line of type several times to the action of the ejectors, and therefore cam 362 is formed to give the plunger 353- three or four intermittent movements from right to left in advancing the line under the ejectors, and the discarder mechanism is so actuated and timed that each time the line stops the ejector mechanism is operated, thus insuring the complete elimination or discarding of the spaces from the line. The means for thus regulating the operation of the discarders or ejectors will be hereinafter explained.

It sometimes happens that a space pushed out by the ejectors does not wholly separate from the line, but hangs therefrom, being pinched between adjoining type, and for this reason I use a striker 320, operating upon the principles disclosed in my Patent No. 604,305, dated May 17, 1898, and in this instance the striker 320 is pivotally connected to the lower end of vertical swinging arms 319 in front of the ej ectors, and the strikerprojects rearward and lies normally with its its inner edge close under the channel a. Springs 320 are attached to the striker and the swinging arms 319, so as to normally swing the striker upward as the arms swing inward, so that the striker-blade will act effectively upon any part ially-ejected spaces in the line and complete the discarding thereof. The arms 319 are moved at the proper time by links 343, which are connected to swinging arms 318, provided with cam-rollers which are pressed against cams 386, fixed on the shaft 380. Stout springs 318 are employed to hold the arms 318 against the cams and to swing the striker inward, when permitted to do so, by the cams 386, said cams 386 and levers 318 forcing the striker quickly outward against the action of spring 318 and keeping it outward except for the moment when it must act, the springs producing very rapid, eflicient, and powerful action of the striker for the purpose ofejecting the spaces.

It sometimes happens that spaces may be partially ejected from the line and hang there just when the line is going to be forwarded, and if the line is forwarded with the spaces in this condition some of the type are apt to lie askew or diagonally of the channel, so that when the ejectors descend they will strike the twisted type and will break the latter. To prevent such accidents, therefore, I employ the liner-plate 592, which operates oppositely to the striker 320. Liner-plate 592 is attached to swinging levers 593, connected by a link 594 to one end of abellcrank 595, the other end of which presses against a cam 596, attached to a sleeve on shaft 379 and driven simultaneously with the pinion 377, to which it is made fast, as hereinafter described. A spring 595 is attached to lever 595, so as to hold the same against the cam 596 and throw the liner-plate alinement of the type in the channel, so that ratchet 286, as shown.

when the plunger 353 acts-on the line of type all the type will move forward parallel and straight in the channel. Furthermore, the liner 592 forms a kind of movable false bottom for the channel a, beneath the ejectors, at which point, of course, the channel is very open, as there is only a shallow groove at each side of the channel, just sufficient to hold the proper length types in place. The liner will thus assist in upholding the type and spaces in channel a until'the ejectors' are ready to act.

As above stated, the discarder mechanism is actuated from cams on the shaft 380, which latter is driven by gear 381 from the gear 377 on shaft 379, and gear 377 is intermittently locked to the shaft 379 by automatic clutch mechanism, as follows: On the hub of bevel-gear 376, (which is keyed to shaft 379 and by which the latter is continuonslydriven from a bevel-gear 427 on shaft 427,) is fixed a ratchet 286, provided with one or more opposite notches or teeth, which are adapted to be engaged by a dog 282, pivoted on a disk 287, which is fixed on the hub of gear 377, (loosely journaled on shaft 379.) Of course when dog 282 engages'the ratchet 286 disk 287 and gear 377 will be locked to the shaft 379 and rotate therewith. A spring 278 is attached to disk 287 and bears against the tail of dog 282 and continuously tends to throw it into engagement with the ratchet 286; but this tendency of the spring is overcome by means of a lock-lever 283, which is pivoted on the fixed support beside the edge of a disk 287 and one of its ends is upturned, as shown, so as to engage a protuberance on the tail of the dog 28-2 and cause the dog to rock on its pivot on the disk 287 and disengage it from the ratchet 286. (See Fig. 9.) The other end of lock-lever 283 is provided with a lateral lug 283 which lies close to the periphery of disk 287 and is adapted to be engaged by a cam 287 on said disk, so that the lock-lever will be rocked by the cam and its other end will be thrown into position to engage the dog 282 and cause the latter to disengage ratchet 286. This cam 287 and lock-lever are so proportioned that just as the dog disengages the ratchet 286 the lug 283 clears the cam 287 but just prior to this disengagement a pivoted catch 273, mounted on the rock-shaft 274, is thrown under the curved end of the lock-lever and locks it in position to hold dog 282 disengaged from So long as the dog is disengaged from ratchet 286 the spring 278 is of course under tension; but as soon as catch 273 is moved so as to release the lock-lever 362 is again set in motion.

spring 278 will immediately throw the dog into engagement with ratchet 286, which is continuously rotating, and thereby immediately sets the gear 377 in motion and therethrough sets in motion the operative parts of the discarding mechanism. The gear 377 will continue to rotate so long as catch-273 is kept out of engagement with the lock-lever.

Catch 27 3 is operated by means of an arm 267'on rock-shaft 274, which arm is connected by a rod 339 to one end of a rocking lever 272, the other end of which is provided with a roller 272*, which bears upon a peripheral cam 360, mounted on the tubular shaft 364 of cam 362, as shown. A spring 272 is attached to lever 272 and will hold its roller against cam 360 and also keep catch 273 in position to lock the lever 283. until it is released by the positive action of the cam 360. Thus the space-discarding mechanism is controlled from the same cam-shaft that controls the movement of the line-propelling lever 527, and the parts are so constructed and timed relatively to each other that the line of type will be moved forward under the ejectors four times by the plunger 353, operated from cam 362, and the ejector mechanism will be operated four times during the revolution of cam 362, these operations occurring during the time when the line-shifting plunger 353 is dwelling and the line of type is momentarily stopped in its movement through channel a. The discarding mechanism is also so timed that the controller 323 will raise the ejectors and will .keep them out of the way each time the line is to be moved in the channel a.

As each operation of the discarder mechanism requires a full revolution of shaft 380, such shaft must be rotated four times for each revolution of cam 362. The catch 273 is therefore disengaged from lockdever 283 at the proper time by cam 360 and kept disengaged until shaft 380 has made four revolutions. Then catch 273 is thrown back in position to lock lever 283 and hold the dog .282 out of engagement with ratchet 286 until another line is to be operated upon and cam A dog 494 is pivoted on the frame beside disk 287 and is adapted to engage a notch in the disk just as dog 282 is disengaged from ratchet 286, so as to prevent back play of the disk or shaft 380, which might occur on accountof the springpressure against the several cams on said shaft if the disk was not locked.

The mecmsfor loading the arepcw-ed Zine into I the (Z'isi-ribut'ing-cylinder.When the leads and spaces have been discarded from the line, as above described, the line is then moved onward into position to be loaded into the distributing-cylinder by the following means, while the above-described devices are returned to normal position ready to begin operations upon another line: After the line of type has beenacted upon by the ejectors and before plunger 353 is retracted to bring up a new line, the line is taken under control by a secondary plunger 305, working in a guideway just below the continuation of channel a, which plunger is adapted to work under plunger 353 (see Fig. 19) when the latter is in its extremeinwa-rd position. The plunger 305 carries a spring-pressed plate 307, which when plunger 305 moves under plunger 353 springs up behind the line of type in channel a through a groove or channel 353 in the lower side and inner end of plunger 353, as shown. Then plunger 353 can move outward, while theline will remain under the control of plunger 305. Plunger 305 is pr0- vided with a depending plate 306, which is connected by a link 333 to the upper end of a lever 325, which is connected to a rock-shaft 568, to which is attached an arm 326, provided with a friction-roller which engages a peripheral race in a cam 36!, keyed to the sleeve 364, on which cam 362 is also keyed, these cams being mounted on such sleeve, which is journaled on a through-shaft 364 for convenience in assembling and removing the parts. The plunger 305 advances the line from the space-discarder mechanism to the elevator, by which the line is diverted from the horizontal into a vertical position directly opposite and parallel with some one of the channels in the distributer 417. The channel a, in other words, after it passes the space-discarder turns upwardly at right angles and extends vertically and upwardly parallel with the channels in the distributer. The vertical extension of channel a is formed in a casting 243, which is suitably supported on the main frame, the outer side of the channel therein being closed by a casting 244, as shown. The line-elevator is located at the bend of the channel and consists of a rocking disk 252, provided with a tooth 252, which is moved back and forth by the rocking of the disk and takes the type from plunger 305 and raises the same in the vertical part of channel a until it stands opposite a channel in the distributer 417 and directly behind a horizontally-movable loading-plunger 355, which is guided in an extension of casting 243.

The elevator 252 is fixed on a short shaft 254, which is connected bya short crank 254" to the upper end of a rod 335, the lower end of which is connected to one arm of a bellerank lever 251, the other arm of which is connected by a link 334 to a slide 256, which moves in a guide 255, attached to the stationary part of the framework just opposite the upper end of lever 328, and slide 256 is provided with opposite lugs 257, which are adapted to be struck by the upper end of lever 323 as the latter reciprocates. A spring 334 is attached to link 334-and a stationary part of the frame and normally pulls the slide inward and holds the line-elevator252 in the position shown in Fig. 11, so that its lug 252 will not interfere with the advance of the type from the channel a. As the lever 328 swings outward, so as to retract the plunger 353, its upper end strikes the outer stud 257 on slide 256 and pulls the slide outward, thereby, through the described connections, rocking the elevator 252 so as to cause its lug 252 to take the line of type which has just been brought forward byplunger305 and lift such line into the vertical part of channel a, and the elevator stops when the lowermost type in the line is exactly in alinement with the base of the discharge-slot a in the rear side of the type-channel in casting 243 and opposite plunger 355, through. which slot at the type are ejected into the channels of the receiver. The parts are so timed that plunger 305 brings the line of type over and partially beyond the tooth 252 of elevator 252 before said elevator is actuated, and then when said elevator is actuated tooth 252 slips in behind the line of type by depressing tongue 307 out of channel a and pushes the line of type on into the vertical portion of the channel a, opposite the slot at, as above described. When the type-line reaches this position and while the elevator is momentarily stopped, the loading-plunger 355 is actuated so as to move the line of type into the channel of the distributer, which is effected very rapidly by the following mechanism: The plunger 355 is moun ted to move horizontally in suitable guides attached to the casting 243, as shown, and is connected by hinged links 340 to a doublearmed lever 310, which is attached to the upper end of a short vertical shaft 311, journaled in a stationary bracket 313, attached to the frame 400 at the inner side of the space-discarding mechanism, shaft 311 being rocked by means of an arm 312 on its lower end, to which is connected a forked push-rod 314, which embraces the vertical sleeve 370 on shaft 369 and carries a roller 314, engaging a race in the cam 367, keyed to sleeve 370, as shown. This cam is so timed in relation to the other parts of the mechanism that the loading-plunger 355 is operated the moment after elevator 252 has brought the line of type into position directly opposite the loading-plunger.,

As previously stated, when this invention is applied to a distributing-machine it is intended to an tomatically load the empty channels of the distributer, and consequently should operate only when an empty channel is to be filled, and this desired automatic action may be best controlled by providing each channel in the distributor with some device which when its channels are empty will actuate a controlling device by which the loading mechanisms are permitted to operate. For convenience I utilize the follower-weights in the distributer-channels as the means for actuating the tripping device. Each follower 584 therefore is provided with a projecting lug 584, which when all of the type in the channel are exhausted will come into position to actuate the tripping mechanism as follows: On the casting 244 next to the distributer is pivoted a bell-crank trip-lever 264, Figs.

8, 17, and 22, one arm of which normally stands in position to be struck by the lug 584 of any follower in the distributor-channels which is permitted to drop to the bottom thereof by the distribution or escape of all the type therein. This trip-lever is held in this position by means of a spring 264 and a stop-pin 264 (Seev Figs. 7, 20, 21, and 22.) The other arm of this lever underlies a hook 342 on the upper end of a rod 342, the upper end-of which is guided by means of a slot therein engaging an eccentric-pin 265 on the end of a rock-shaft 265. This shaft 265 extends to thefront of the machine and is provided with a handle 266. By turning the shaft to one position (see Fig. 22) the rod 342 will be moved out of position to engage the trip 264, so that the discarding and loading mechanism will not be tripped or released when lever 264 is rocked. When the shaft 265 is turned to the other position, however, Figs. 20 and 24, the rod 342 is kept in position to engage the trip-lever and be operated thereby, so as to release the discarder and loader. The lower end of rod 342 is pivotally connected to one arm of a bell-crank 341, the other arm of which is connected by a rod 338 to an arm 267 on the horizontal rock -shaftv 268, which extends over toward the shaft 369 and has on its outer end an arm 269, which controls the operation of the clutch by which the sleeve 370 is locked to shaft 369. This clutch is constructed very much like the clutch by which gear 377 is locked to shaft 379that is, it consists of a ratchet-disk 284, (similar to 236,) which is keyed on the shaft 369 below a large cam-disk 368, which is fast to the sleeve 370. On the bottom of cam 368 is pivoted a dog 282, (similar to that already described,) which is normally thrown into position to engage the ratchet 384 by the spring 278. The sleeve 370 is to be given one revolution each time it is clutched to shaft 369, and for this reason a pivoted shoe 281 is employed, which will at each revolution'of the cam 368 engage the tail of the dog 282, as indicated in Figs. 9 and 13, and compel it to disengage ratchet 384. Latch-shoe 281 is held in engagement with the dog 282 by an arm 269 on rock-shaft 268, which arm is held down by means of a spring 269, so that its free end obstructs the movement of the latch 281. However, whenever shaft 268 is rocked (by trip-lever 264 pulling rod 342 upward) so as to disengage arm 269 from the shoe 281 the spring 278 throwsdog and shoe outward, and the dog 282 engages the ratchet 284, and as the latter is continually rotating movement is immediately imparted to cam 368 and through it to sleeve 370, as is obvious. Before the sleeve has made a complete revolution, however, the shoe 281 is thrown back into position to engage pawl 282 by means of the push-rod 270, which is connected to a rocking lever 271, pivoted on a fixed bracket beside cam 262, and its lower arm is provided withafriction-roller 271, that engages a peripheral cam-surface 271 on the end of cam 362, as shown. This rod is actuated by the cam immediately after the sleeve 370 begins to rotate so as to push the shoe 281 inward, so that it will cause the pawl 282' to disengage the ratchet 284. When the shoe is returned to this position, the arm 269 drops infront of the shoe and positively looks it. Before cam 362 stops revolving the arm 270 is retracted by the spring 271, the roller 271 entering a depressed portion of the cam 271, and rod 270 remains thus retracted until the trip 264 is again actuated so as to cause arm 269 to disengage shoe 281. It will be noted that the clutch for locking sleeve 37 0 to shaft 369 is released directly by the action of the trip-lever 264, through bar 342, lever 341, link 338, arm 267, rock-shaft 268, and arm 269, so that each time said trip-lever 264 is actuated by the lug of a follower in one of the distributing-cylinder channels, the. discarder and loader is set in operation and permitted to perform one cycle of operations. Each time the trip-lever 264 is operated (provided the bar 342 be in position to engage with the trip) the continuously-rotating shaft 369 is clutched to the sleeve 37 0 and imparts one full revolution to the latter, and as cams 368, 367, and 365 are all keyed to sleeve 370 all of these cams will be rotated once each time the trip 264 is actuated by the lug of the follower in the empty channel. Of course as the follower in the empty channel of the distributer is at the bottom of the channel some means must be provided for raising such follower prior to the injection of the line of type into such channel, and this operation is provided for and automatically accomplished prior to the actuation of the loading-plunger 355, as follows: The cam 368 operates alever 324, which is pivoted on a fixed support near the cam, and its shorter arm is providedwith a roller 324*, engaging a peripheral groove in cam 368. The long arm of lever 324 is connected by link 337 to a vertically-movable bar 354, which is guided in a casting 246, attached to a casting 243. The upper end of this bar normally lies close to and just below the upper end of trip 264, so that the lug of the follower 584, which actuates the trip, will stop just above the upper end of bar 354. The distributer-cylinder is rotated by a stepby-step motion and comes momentarily to rest immediately after thelug of one of its followers 584 has actuated trip 264, and as soon as sleeve 370 starts to rotate cam 368 oscillates lever 324 and elevates bar 354, the upper end of which catches the lug on the follower 584, which has just actuated the trip and lifts this follower up out of the way of the incoming line of type, which is immediately thereafter shoved into the channel beneath the follower by the loading-plunger 355, which is actuated just after the plunger 584 is elevated by bar 354'. 4

The lever 324 is made to indirectly control the operation of the space and lead discarding mechanisms and line-forwarding plunger 

